The alarming incidence of bodies recovered from rivers across the country has surged in recent years, raising deep concerns among law enforcement and the public alike. Police and investigative authorities report that in a significant number of cases, the victims were murdered elsewhere, and perpetrators disposed of the bodies in rivers to destroy evidence. This practice not only complicates investigations but often renders the identification of the deceased a prolonged and challenging task.
According to data from the river police, over the past five years, more than 2,000 bodies have been retrieved from rivers nationwide. Alarmingly, at least 600 of these remain unidentified. Investigators explain that immersion in water accelerates decomposition, erases fingerprints, and damages other identifying features, making both identification and determination of the cause of death exceedingly difficult.
The following table provides a concise overview of river body recoveries in recent years:
| Year / Period | Number of Bodies Recovered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2025 (Total) | 2,064 | River Police records |
| Identified | 1,425 | Mostly via fingerprints and investigative cross-checking |
| Unidentified | 639 | Investigations still ongoing |
| 2024 | ~440 | At least 41 homicide cases filed in various police stations |
| Jan–July last year | ≥301 | Includes women, men, and children |
Investigative procedures often involve cross-referencing recovered bodies with missing persons reports. However, when fingerprints are destroyed, identification becomes more reliant on DNA samples, which are preserved for future verification should relatives or new leads emerge.
One notable case occurred in Narayanganj on 28 August last year, when a headless body was found in the Shitalakshya River. With the assistance of the Police Bureau of Investigation, fingerprint analysis eventually identified the victim as 27-year-old Habib of Madhya Kanchpur, Sonargaon. Despite this, his head has yet to be recovered, and four suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
In another instance, bodies of an unidentified woman and child were discovered in the Buriganga River. Post-mortem reports indicated death by strangulation before disposal. Six months later, their identities remain unknown, as water damage had obliterated fingerprints.
Law enforcement officials emphasise that river disposal creates numerous investigative challenges. Marks from fish bites or vessel collisions often obscure the nature of the attack, and deaths initially recorded as unnatural may later be reclassified as homicides after autopsy confirmation.
Criminologists note that organised criminals frequently premeditate the disposal location, choosing rivers or railway tracks because evidence decays rapidly and identification becomes difficult. The river police assert that when a body cannot be identified, a final report is submitted to the court, yet DNA samples are retained, allowing investigations to resume if new information emerges. Behind hundreds of unidentified bodies lie untold stories of unresolved murders, awaiting justice.